Create and incrementally build synthesis documents from multiple sources.

Output Location

All synthesis documents go in: my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Synthesis/[Topic]/

Structure:

my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Synthesis/ └── ADHD/ ├── ADHD Synthesis.md # Main synthesis ├── ADHD Sources.md # Sources table + processing log └── ADHD Medications Synthesis.md # Sub-topic (if created)

Queue Files

Queues live in: .claude/skills/synthesize/references/queues/[topic].json

{ "name": "ADHD", "topic_folder": "ADHD", "batch_size": 3, "max_discovered_per_source": 3, "watch_patterns": [ "my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Capture/Videos/**/ADHD.md", "my-vault/01 Inbox/adhd.md", "my-vault/04 Personal/Health/ADHD.md" ], "sources": [ {"path": "my-vault/path/to/note.md", "status": "pending", "type": "local"}, {"path": "my-vault/path/to/video.md", "status": "processed", "type": "local"}, {"url": "https://example.com/study", "status": "pending", "type": "web", "discovered_from": "src-2", "context": "Key study on medication timing"}, {"search": "Barkley 2023 executive function", "status": "pending", "type": "search", "discovered_from": "src-2", "context": "Referenced as foundational research"} ], "last_run": "2026-01-14T10:00:00Z" }

Source types:

• local

• Path to existing note in my-vault

• web

• URL to fetch and process

• search

• Search query to find the source (use WebSearch, then fetch best result)

Source status values: pending , processed , skipped

watch_patterns: Glob patterns for /synthesize update to scan. Paths matching these patterns get added to the queue automatically (if not already present).

Commands

• /synthesize [topic]

• Continue processing the named synthesis

• /synthesize list

• Show all active synthesis queues and progress

• /synthesize new [topic]

• Create a new synthesis queue

• /synthesize add [topic] [path-or-glob]

• Add sources to a queue

• /synthesize update [topic]

• Scan watch_patterns for new sources and add to queue

Architecture

This skill uses a coordinator + subagent pattern for efficient processing:

• Coordinator (Sonnet/Opus): Manages state, spawns extractors, merges findings into synthesis

• Extractors (Haiku subagents): Each reads one source, extracts structured findings in parallel

This allows processing 6-10 sources per batch instead of 2-3, with ~3x throughput improvement.

Workflow

Starting a Session

• Load queue file for the topic

• Read the main synthesis doc (or create from template if first run)

• Read the sources file

• Identify next N pending sources (N = 6-10 for parallel extraction)

Phase 1: Parallel Extraction (Haiku Subagents)

Spawn 6-10 Haiku extractors in parallel using the Task tool:

Task tool call:

• model: haiku
• subagent_type: general-purpose
• prompt: (see Extractor Prompt Template below)

Extractor Prompt Template:

Read this file and extract [TOPIC]-relevant findings in a structured format.

FILE: [full path to source]

Return your findings as a simple list in this format: CATEGORY: [Category Name]

• Finding 1 (be specific, include numbers/names if mentioned)
• Finding 2 ...

Only include substantive findings relevant to understanding [TOPIC]. Skip metadata, timestamps, and filler. If the source has little new information, just return "MINIMAL_CONTENT".

For web sources, modify prompt to use WebFetch first:

1. Use WebFetch to retrieve: [URL]
2. Extract [TOPIC]-relevant findings from the content...

For search sources, modify prompt to search first:

1. Use WebSearch to find: [search query]
2. Use WebFetch on the best result
3. Extract [TOPIC]-relevant findings...

Phase 2: Merge Findings (Coordinator)

Once all extractors return:

• Collect all extraction results

• Review for:

• New findings to add to existing categories

• Findings that warrant new categories

• Contradictions with existing content → add to Open Questions

• Dense categories → add to Suggested Sub-Topics

• Update synthesis doc with citations (^[src-N])

• Add sources to Sources table

• Mark sources as processed in queue

Phase 3: Discovery (Coordinator)

While reviewing extractions, watch for references worth following up:

• Studies or papers cited

• Articles or books mentioned

• Other videos or talks referenced

• Experts or researchers named

Limit: 3 discovered sources per source processed.

Discovery

While processing each source, watch for references worth following up:

• Studies or papers cited

• Articles or books mentioned

• Other videos or talks referenced

• Experts or researchers named (for potential lookup)

Limit: 3 discovered sources per source processed.

For each valuable reference:

• Check if already in queue (deduplicate by URL, title, or path)

• Add to queue with:

• type : web if URL available, search if just a name/title

• discovered_from : source ID where you found it

• context : why it's relevant (1 sentence)

• status : pending

Prioritize discoveries that:

• Are directly cited as evidence for claims

• Come from credible sources (peer-reviewed, recognized experts)

• Fill gaps in the current synthesis

Skip discovering:

• Tangential references not central to the topic

• Sources that would require paid access (note in processing log if significant)

• Generic resources (e.g., "see Wikipedia for more")

Ending a Session

• Write updated synthesis doc

• Write updated sources file

• Write updated queue file with new last_run timestamp

• Add entry to Processing Log (include discovery count)

• Report: Processed X items. Discovered Y new sources. Z items remaining. Run /synthesize [topic] to continue.

If all sources processed:

Synthesis complete. X total sources processed. Review Suggested Sub-Topics for potential expansion.

Updating a Synthesis (/synthesize update [topic] )

Use this to find new sources that match watch_patterns without reprocessing old ones.

• Load queue file for the topic

• Collect all paths from watch_patterns using Glob

• Filter out any paths already in sources (regardless of status)

• Add new matches to sources with:

• type : local

• status : pending

• Update queue file

• Report: Found X new sources matching watch_patterns. Queue now has Y pending items. Run /synthesize [topic] to process.

If no new sources found:

No new sources found. Synthesis is up to date with watch_patterns.

Tip: Run /synthesize update [topic] periodically after adding new notes or video summaries to keep the synthesis current.

Synthesis Document Template

Create at: my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Synthesis/[Topic]/[Topic] Synthesis.md

class: Synthesis topic: [Topic Name] created: [Date] lastUpdated: [Date] status: in-progress

Overview

[2-3 sentence summary of the topic - updated as understanding deepens]

Key Findings

[Category]

• Finding with specific details ^[src-1]
• Another finding that multiple sources support ^[src-1] ^[src-3]

<!-- Add categories as needed based on source content -->

Open Questions

<!-- Contradictions, uncertainties, areas needing human judgment -->

• [Topic]: Source A says X ^[src-1], but Source B says Y ^[src-2].

Suggested Sub-Topics

<!-- Categories that could warrant their own synthesis -->

• [Sub-topic] - X sources touched on this; may warrant dedicated synthesis

Sources and processing log: [[Topic Sources]]

Sources Document Template

Create at: my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Synthesis/[Topic]/[Topic] Sources.md

class: Note parent: "[[Topic Synthesis]]"

Sources

Processing Log

• 2026-01-14: Initial synthesis. Processed 3 items. Created categories for X, Y, Z. Discovered 2 new sources.
• 2026-01-15: Processed 3 items. Flagged contradiction on [topic]. Discovered 1 new source.

Length Discipline

Core content (Overview through Suggested Sub-Topics) must stay under 300 lines.

Guidelines:

• Overview: 5 lines max

• Categories: 8 max in main doc

• Points per category: 15 max

• Open Questions: 10 max

When a category exceeds ~40-50 lines or has 5+ sources going deep:

• Summarize tightly in the main doc (5-10 key points)

• Add to Suggested Sub-Topics

• Sub-topic syntheses get their own doc in the same folder, linking back to parent

Handling Contradictions

When new information conflicts with existing content:

• Do not silently replace the existing information

• Move both claims to Open Questions with citations:

• Medication timing: Take with food for reduced side effects ^[src-2], but empty stomach for faster absorption ^[src-5]. May depend on specific medication.

• If a clear resolution exists (newer research, more credible source, broader consensus), note it:

• Resolved: Earlier sources suggested X, but consensus now supports Y ^[src-8] ^[src-9] ^[src-10]

Citation Format

Use ^[source-id] inline, where source-id matches the ID column in the Sources table.

• Single source: Finding here ^[src-1]

• Multiple sources: Well-supported finding ^[src-1] ^[src-3] ^[src-7]

• Conflicting sources: Note in Open Questions section

Adding Sources to Queue

Manual Addition

/synthesize add adhd my-vault/path/to/specific/note.md

Glob Pattern

/synthesize add adhd "my-vault/06 Knowledge Base/Capture/Videos/**/ADHD.md"

By Tag (search and add)

When adding, search for relevant notes:

• Notes with topic in filename

• Notes with relevant tags

• Video summaries from relevant channels

Deduplicate against existing sources in queue before adding.

Creating Sub-Topic Syntheses

When a sub-topic warrants its own document:

• Create new queue: /synthesize new "ADHD Medications"

• Set topic_folder to match parent: "ADHD" (keeps files together)

• Add relevant sources (can include already-processed sources from parent for deeper dive)

• In parent synthesis, add link: See also: [[ADHD Medications Synthesis]]

• In sub-topic synthesis Overview, note parent: Deep-dive from [[ADHD Synthesis]]